Zipcar Expands Its University Network With the Launch of Eight New Campuses This Winter

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Zipcar, Inc., the world's largest car sharing network, announced today that it has completed the official launch of programs at eight additional college and university campuses this winter.  The company has a presence on more than 225 campuses, making Zipcar the largest provider of campus car sharing in North America and the leading choice for car sharing programs among colleges and universities.  Within this network of campus programs, 1.7 million students, faculty and staff are now within a short walk of a Zipcar.

Since November 2010, Zipcar has rolled out programs at eight of some of the largest schools in the nation, including the University of Texas at Austin, Michigan State University, North Carolina State University, University of Richmond, Christopher Newport University, Hampshire College, Meredith College and Seton Hall University.  

"We know that college students quickly embrace the concept of car-sharing.  This is the same generation that buys music by the song.  Reserving a shared car by the hour is a natural extension," said Scott Griffith, chairman and CEO at Zipcar.  "We're also helping to support and engage our growing student network with new social tools such as ZipcarU on Facebook, where our University community members can share stories, pictures, ideas for Ziptrips, ask questions and give advice."

Zipcar piloted the ZipcarU page on Facebook in late 2010 (www.facebook.com/ZipcarU).  With a growing list of more than 1,500 "Likes," ZipcarU is a social destination on Facebook that speaks to the specific needs of college students.  

Today, the ZipcarU page launched a month-long contest celebrating "Student Orgs."  As part of this program, Zipcar is asking student organizations to explain why they need or want a Zipcar membership.  In 75 words or less, student organizations can post on the ZipcarU wall to explain how their club or team can benefit from Zipcar.  Zipcar will select the final four entries and allow the ZipcarU community to vote for the winner.  The contest concludes on February 21, 2011 at Midnight Eastern Time and the winner will be announced on February 25, 2011, on the ZipcarU wall and in Zipcar's March University Member Newsletter.  The winning student group will receive 20 free memberships and $25 of driving for each account.

As an alternative to the high costs and hassles of owning a car, the Zipcar hourly and daily rates include gas, 180 miles of travel per day, insurance, reserved parking spots and roadside assistance. Rates on over 30 makes and models of the self-service vehicles start as low as $8 per hour and $66 per day (24 hours).  The annual membership fee for individuals at colleges and universities is $35, and applicants receive $35 worth of free driving credit that applies toward their first month of driving. Students, faculty and staff at participating schools can join at http://www.zipcar.com/universities.

"The University of Texas at Austin chose to bring Zipcar to campus in an effort to introduce students, faculty and staff to the world's leading car-sharing company," said Blanca Juarez, alternative transportation manager for The University of Texas at Austin. "Zipcar offers unparalleled levels of convenience and flexibility along with a myriad of fun and diverse vehicle choices. We are so excited about this new partnership; not only will it help to reduce parking demands on campus, it also shows our commitment to sustainability by helping to reduce our carbon footprint."

"In a 2009, we conducted an employee transportation study and found that 81 percent of respondents drove alone to and from work.  Many of these drivers indicated that they would take alternative forms of transit if it were made more convenient and less expensive," said Jennifer Battle, Assistant Director, Office of Campus Sustainability for Michigan State University. "As a result, Zipcar is being offered as part of a suite of transportation options that will help to improve transportation convenience for faculty, staff, students and community members."

Zipcars can be easily reserved and accessed 24 hours a day and are located in convenient spaces in high demand areas on college campuses. Zipcar even offers a fun and functional iPhone app that will honk the horn to locate a Zipcar and unlock the doors for members.

In addition to its presence on 225 college and university campuses, Zipcar has operations in more than 60 cities including Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, Washington D.C., and Vancouver.

About Zipcar

Zipcar is the world's leading car-sharing network with more than 530,000 members and 8,000 vehicles located in major metropolitan areas and college campuses throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.  Zipcar offers more than 30 makes and models of self-service vehicles by the hour or day to residents and businesses looking for an alternative to the high costs and hassles of owning a car. More information is available at www.zipcar.com.

Zipcar and the Zipcar logo are trademarks of Zipcar, Inc.

SOURCE Zipcar, Inc.